Study finds that inflammation may be linked to an upsurge in social media usage

A recent study revealed that individuals who experience inflammation often spend more time on social media platforms in an attempt to engage with friends and family. Dr. David S. Lee, an assistant professor of communication at the University of Buffalo and author of the study published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, explains that when the body is healing from inflammation and other illnesses, people tend to increase their phone usage.

According to Lee, “Inflammation is typically followed by behaviors and symptoms associated with sickness that can help the body heal.” He further adds that humans are social beings, and when sick or injured, it may be beneficial for individuals to seek social support and care.

The study discovered that individuals who feel unwell tend to send direct messages and post on their friends’ pages more frequently compared to when they are in good health. Interestingly, inflammation did not lead to an increased usage of social media for entertainment purposes.

The study, which involved 1,800 college-age and middle-aged participants, with the aim of analyzing the influence of C-reactive protein (CRP) on social media usage, was the first of its kind. CRP is produced in the liver in response to inflammation.

The study indicated that the social media interaction of the middle-aged group did not change significantly, as they typically use these platforms less than once a day, despite the increasing number of individuals from this age group active on social media.

Researchers discovered that while studying college-age participants, inflammation may contribute to an increase in social media usage. Lee hopes that the findings of this study can be used to educate individuals on how to effectively utilize social media as a means of connecting with others.

Lee concludes, “Following this line of research can further enhance our understanding of the potential connections between the body and daily social behavior. For some individuals, the relationship between social media use and inflammation may create a positive feedback loop where more social media use leads to increased inflammation, which then drives more social media use.”